Easy Email

The desktop shield to help beginners

3rd Age Solutions

 

 

A shield that-

  • Presents at switch on
  • Offers simplified versions of current software applications
  • Offers the internet under "parental control"

 

 

 

 

 Why is it Needed?
  • Email is the most popular application for adult beginners
  • A high proportion of 10 million pensioners, together with many younger people, have been unwilling to try email and the internet or have been unsuccessful in mastering it.
  • Factors at work in our society make it increasingly important they are no longer isolated from cheap contact with distant relatives, shopping delivered to the door, bargains available, and sources of interest.
  • An aging population demands increasing levels of personal attention which cannot be provided within national budget limits.
  • Independence is the last treasure to be defended at all costs.
  • Skills developed in early retirement will increase independence later on.

What is needed?

  • A shield screen as illustrated to give confidence
  • Computer software that conceals the complex operations
  • Email software which is simplified to focus on address, write, and send from a single screen, that is not smothered in alternatives, pop-ups and warnings.
  • A basic self loading package which could be sold or donated by different ISP's aimed at computer literate people wanting to help their isolated relatives into the benefits.
  • 'Address Book only' download protection to enable incoming pictures without all the virus warnings.
  • An army of volunteers to make visits and solve problems.
  • A similar interface in the public libraries to build confidence at low cost.
  • After confidence has grown, full internet and computer use will often result.

Why this way?

  • A project targeting the elderly will not reach those who consider themselves able bodied.
  • Many computer literates give old computers to their relatives but underestimate the barriers they face, and do not have the time to support.
  • Professional training cannot meet the scale of need alone.
  • Email is perceived as the reason for wanting to learn, but many leave courses without achieving their goal.
  • Class teaching is not always enough. Ever heard of a driving class?
  • One to one support in the home or public library can achieve email confidence in 8 one hour sessions including signup.

Proposed Method

A target of 1 million new email users should be agreed. They would be supported by 100,000 volunteer trainers. Each partner should outline what facilities they can make available to reach this target. partnership should be open ended and continue while it is in the partner's interest.

Resources could be provided as follows:-
Prospective Partner Contribution
ISP's like AOL, Tesco.net, Hotmail, Demon, Waitrose etc. An additional marketable software product using the Easy Email welcome page to autoload their own easy products.
Decentralised Volunteer organisations like Age Concern and U3A Circulate affiliated bodies to build a register of local volunteers, take up references, and build the central web registry.
Retail groups like Tesco, Waitrose, Time Warner etc Advertise project on bags etc. to all ages to gain volunteers and new emailers.
Public Libraries Incorporate Easy Email in their Welcome page and relegate complex agreements etc. to their membership application.
Computer Retailers like PC World, Dixons etc. Promote the Easy Email package to attract non-computer users and those buying for relatives.
Second-hand computer charities, businesses etc. Provide older machines for charity loan.
Major businesses Involve staff as support volunteers
3rd Age Solutions etc. Develop focus groups of learners independent of the main participants to advise and to test products.
British Computer Society To develop Easy Email welcome for older computer types and operating systems.
Big Lottery Fund Charity Administration costs
Government Grants and publicity
 

Behind the desktop each package supplier will be free to interpret their own simplified designs, or some could agree a common design.

A meeting will be held in August 2005 and those attending will form the steering committee to take the project forward.

The date and venue is to be agreed so please express your interest.